How Much Does It Cost To Go To Universal Studios Orlando?

Have you ever ventured outside of the Disney Bubble during your vacation to Walt Disney World? There are many attractions and activities to do in the Orlando area. The most popular place to visit besides Disney World would have to be Universal Orlando. But have you wondered how much a day at Universal Orlando costs?

The Universal Orlando Resort has two theme parks and one water park: Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, and Volcano Bay. At Universal, you'll find rides and attractions that are themed around popular movies and shows such as Harry Potter, Jurassic Park, The Simpsons, Marvel Comics, Minions, and more! Universal also has meet and greets, shows, entertainment, events, dining, and shopping to enjoy.

On many of my trips to Walt Disney World, I have taken time to go and enjoy a day at Universal Orlando. In this article, I'm going to talk about how much it costs to visit Universal Orlando for a one-day visit. We'll look at ticket prices, discounts, Universal Express Pass, transportation methods, and hotel costs.

Plan Your Day at Universal Orlando

For the absolute best prices on tickets to Universal Orlando, head over to Get Away Today. As an approved re-seller, Get Away Today can provide tickets at the lowest price possible. Get Away Today also has a fantastic and knowledgeable team. Their customer service can't be beat. Rest assured that you and your order will be taken care of with the attention that you deserve.

If you need help planning a vacation that includes both Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando, Get Away Today can help you with that too! With an amazing team of agents, Get Away Today provides concierge-level vacation planning services. They will take the stress away from vacation planning and take care of every detail of your trip. You can sit back and relax even before you're on your trip when Get Away Today is taking care of your vacation needs.

While you're planning your Universal Studios Florida trip, you should refer to our various planning guides. I have shared our complete guide to Universal Orlando with tips for taking advantage of everything offered at the entire resort and the best information on saving money with discount Universal Orlando tickets.

You'll also want to dive into our specific guides on the hotels at Universal Orlando, celebrating Christmas at Universal Orlando, tips for Universal Orlando park touring, Express Pass at Universal Orlando, and more.

Single Day Ticket Prices for Universal Orlando

Ticket prices for Universal Orlando vary depending on the date which means the cost of Universal Orlando will vary. You can choose a 2-Park – 1-Day Ticket (valid for Universal Studios Florida AND Islands of Adventure), 1-Park -1-Day Ticket (valid for Universal Studios Florida OR Islands of Adventure), or a 1-Day Volcano Bay Ticket.

• 2-Park – 1-Day Park-to-Park Ticket
  • Adult Ticket: $174 – $234 (Depending on the Date)
  • Child Ticket (Ages 3-9): $169 – $229 (Depending on the Date)
• 1-Park – 1-Day One Park Per Day Ticket
  • Adult Ticket: $119 – $179 (Depending on the Date)
  • Child Ticket (Ages 3-9): $114 – $174 (Depending on the Date)
• 1-Day Universal's Volcano Bay Ticket
  • Adult Ticket: $80 – $110 (Depending on the Date)
  • Child Ticket (Ages 3-9): $75 – $105 (Depending on the Date)

Florida Resident Single Day Universal Orlando Offers

When Florida Residents go to purchase Single Day Tickets, Universal Orlando will provide a few different special offers which helps to lower the cost. Some of these offers would extend the visit by more than one day. However, they are great deals for Florida Residents! You could consider taking advantage of these offers and breaking up your Walt Disney World vacation with multiple days at Universal Orlando (see how far Universal is from Disney in our guide). Possibly at the beginning and end of your trip. You could even consider starting your vacation off at Walt Disney World and finishing it at Universal Orlando or vice versa. There are so many possibilities!

Here are the offers that are currently available:

• 2-Park – 1-Day + 2nd Day Free Promo Ticket *EXTRA DAY FREE* – With this ticket, you can get two days in both parks. These two days can be used on non-consecutive days. This ticket must be used by 3/6/24.
  • Adult Ticket: $194 – $224 (Depending on the Date)
  • Child Ticket (Ages 3-9): $189 – $219 (Depending on the Date)
• 2-Park, 1-Day + 2nd Day Free + 1 Day at Volcano Bay Promo Ticket *JUST $25 MORE* – With this ticket, you can get two days in both parks AND one day at Volcano Bay. These visits can be non-consecutive. This ticket must be used by 3/6/24.
  • Adult Ticket: $219 -$249 (Depending on the Date)
  • Child Ticket (Ages 3-9): $214 – $244 (Depending on the Date)
• 2-Park – 1-Day Park-to-Park Ticket
  • Adult Ticket: $174 – $234 (Depending on the Date)
  • Child Ticket (Ages 3-9): $169 – $229 (Depending on the Date)
• 1-Day One Park Ticket
  • Adult Ticket: $119 – $179 (Depending on the Date)
  • Child Ticket (Ages 3-9): $114 -$174 (Depending on the Date)
• 1-Day Universal's Volcano Bay Ticket *SAVE UP TO $10 OFF THE GATE PRICE*
  • Adult Ticket: $70 – $110 (Depending on the Date)
  • Child Ticket (Ages 3-9): $65 – $105 (Depending on the Date)

Universal Orlando Express Pass

Express Pass is Universal Orlando's version of a FastPass system. I would highly consider purchasing Express Pass if you're only planning on visiting Universal Orlando for one day. Universal Express Pass is available to use on many of the rides and attractions at Universal Orlando. Since you will have limited time at the park(s), Express Pass would be an extremely useful tool to use to get as much done as possible during your time there.

Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, and Volcano Bay all have Express Pass options available. Each one has a standard Express Pass as well as another Express Pass that comes with additional perks. Let's go over the different options that are available as well as their prices. Just like tickets, the price of Universal Express Pass varies based on the date.

• Universal Studios Florida
  • Universal Express Pass: Universal Studios Florida – Starting at $79.99
    • With this pass, you will be able to skip the regular lines ONCE per ride at participating rides and attractions.
  • Universal Express Unlimited Pass: Universal Studios Florida – Starting at $109.99
    • With this pass, you will be able to skip the regular lines at participating rides and attractions as many times as you'd like.
• Islands of Adventure
  • Universal Express Pass: Universal Islands of Adventure – Starting at $84.99
    • With this pass, you will be able to skip the regular lines ONCE per ride at participating rides and attractions.
  • Universal Express Unlimited Pass: Universal Islands of Adventure – Starting at $114.99
    • With this pass, you will be able to skip the regular lines at participating rides and attractions as many times as you'd like.
• Volcano Bay
  • Universal Express Pass: Universal Volcano Bay – Starting at $19.99
    • With this pass, you will be able to skip the virtual lines at SELECT participating rides and attractions one time per ride.
  • Universal Express PLUS Pass: Universal Volcano Bay – Starting at $49.99
    • With this pass, you will be able to skip ALL virtual lines at participating rides and attractions one time per ride.

Participating Rides and Attractions

Each of the parks has participating rides and attractions for Universal Express Pass. This list is subject to change at any time. Currently, these are the participating rides and attractions for each park.

• Universal Studios Florida
  • The Bourne Stuntacular
  • Despicable Me Minion Mayhem
  • E.T. Adventure
  • Fast & Furious – Supercharged
  • Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts
  • Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit
  • Hogwarts Express (Park-to-Park admission ticket required)
  • Illumination's Villain-Con Minion Blast
  • Kang & Kodos' Twirl ‘n' Hurl
  • MEN IN BLACK Alien Attack
  • Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon
  • Revenge of the Mummy
  • The Simpsons Ride
  • TRANSFORMERS: The Ride-3D
• Islands of Adventure
  • The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man
  • Caro-Seuss-el
  • The Cat in the Hat
  • Doctor Doom's Fearfall
  • Dudley Do-Right's Ripsaw Falls
  • Flight of the Hippogriff
  • Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
  • The High in the Sky Seuss Trolley Train Ride!
  • Hogwarts Express (Park-to-Park admission ticket required)
  • The Incredible Hulk Coaster
  • Jurassic Park River Adventure
  • Jurassic World VelociCoaster
  • One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish
  • Popeye & Bluto's Bilge-Rat Barges
  • Skull Island: Reign of Kong
  • Storm Force Accelatron
• Volcano Bay
  • Honu of Honu ika Moana
  • ika Moana of Honu ika Moana
  • Krakatau Aqua Coaster
  • Maku of Maku Puihi Round Raft Rides
  • Puihi of Maku Puihi Round Raft Rides
  • Punga Racers
  • Taniwha Tubes

Additional rides available with Express PLUS:

• • Kala & Tai Nui Serpentine Body Slides
  • Ko'okiri Body Plunge
  • Ohno of Ohyah & Ohno Drop Slides
  • Ohyah of Ohyah & Ohno Drop Slides

Transportation to Universal Orlando

Due to the convenience of free Disney transportation, it's easy to forget about planning for transportation when you're on a Walt Disney World vacation. There are quite a few different ways that you can get to Universal Orlando from Walt Disney World. I have used multiple different transportation methods for my Universal visits.

We'll take a look at a few different options, but the method of transportation that's best for you will depend on your party size, needs, and preferences. Prices will vary for each transportation option depending on your pick up location and vehicle size and type.

The first option, of course, would be to drive your own vehicle to Universal Orlando. While this would be a free ride (minus the cost of gas), you would still need to consider the cost of parking. The cost of parking for standard sized vehicles at Universal Orlando is $30 per vehicle. If you're driving a larger vehicle, such as an RV, the cost to park is $40.

Another transportation option, and my personal preference, is a rideshare. While I generally find Lyft to be cheaper, Uber is another option that you could use. Overall, for my party size, I find a rideshare to be the most affordable transportation option. You can even schedule your rideshare in advance if you'd like, but it does tend to make the cost go up in comparison to securing your ride right when you need it.

A popular transportation service in the Orlando area is Mears. With Mears, you will have multiple different options of services available to you. From Black Car Services, to Taxis, Shuttles, and Bus Charters. While you wouldn't need a very advance option just to go from Disney World to Universal Orlando, the options are still there and you can use whichever service you prefer!

Universal Orlando Resort Hotels

If you decide to visit the parks at Universal Orlando Resort for more than one day, or if you want to visit Universal Orlando before or after your Walt Disney World vacation, there are multiple hotel options available. Universal has eight hotels that are split amongst four different tier levels: Value, Prime Value, Preferred, and Premier.

All of the Universal Resort Hotels come with standard Universal benefits. These benefits include early park admission, free transportation to the parks, merchandise delivery, and room key charging abilities.

• Value Standard Benefits
  • Universal's Endless Summer Resort – Dockside Inn & Suites
    • Starting from $99 per night
  • Universal's Endless Summer Resort – Surfside Inn & Suites
    • Starting from $99 per night
• Prime Value Standard Benefits + Walkway Access to Volcano Bay
  • Universal's Adventura Hotel
    • Starting from $145 per night
  • Universal's Cabana Bay Beach Resort
    • Starting from $145 per night
• Preferred Standard Benefits + 24hr Room Service, Pet Friendly, and Valet Parking
  • Loews Sapphire Falls Resort
    • Starting from $212 per night
• Premier Standard Benefits + FREE Universal Express Unlimited Pass, 24hr Room Service, Pet Friendly, and Valet Parking
  • Loews Royal Pacific Resort
    • Starting at $328 per night
  • Hard Rock Hotel
    • Starting at $377 per night
  • Loews Portofino Bay Hotel
    • Starting at $392 per night

Visit Universal Orlando

Sometimes it's nice to break up the standard routine and add in another fun activity. A one day visit to Universal Orlando can be a great addition to your Walt Disney World vacation. Don't forget that you can get the best prices possible on your Universal Orlando tickets by purchasing them through Get Away Today. Not only can they provide you with the best ticket prices, but they can also provide the best assistance with your vacation planning. At no additional cost to you, their agents will handle all of the details of your trip. No matter how big or small!

Plan Your Universal Orlando Vacation

We have all the tips and advice you need to plan an awesome Universal Orlando and Walt Disney World vacation. Be sure to join our newsletter for the latest information on planning your Universal and Disney vacations. Click the form below to sign up.

Here are some of our other key planning resources…

• When to Visit Walt Disney World 
• Discount Disney World Tickets  – Where to Buy
• Best Cheap Disney World Hotels
• Walt Disney World Genie Plus Tips
• New Guardians of the Galaxy Rollercoaster at Disney World
• Walt Disney World Swan Reserve Hotel Review

Universal Orlando Cost Q&A